In fact, he thinks the lockout will be over in about a month. Or at least that it should be.

His thoughts on the labor situation, whether owners respect players and I also asked if he thinks an 18-game schedule will shorten running backs careers.

T-U: How closely have you followed labor stuff and what do you think will happen?

FT: Drew, my agent Drew Rosenhaus, he texts us every single day. He doesn't miss a beat. I've been looking at it some. I think it'll be football pretty soon. I think it'll be over with. I definitely think it'll be business as usual in another month or so. I think it'll be over with. I don't see why it shouldn't.

You go from the owners wanting a billion dollars of our share, now couple weeks ago I heard it was something down to they were about 180-something million apart? That's just a wash, going from a billion to a 180-something million. If you can't find a way to close that gap, then you don't need football. But on the outside looking in, not really inside seeing what real negotiations are, I think there's a possibility that it should be football pretty soon.

I think we're only at this point because that was the end of the labor agreement. I don't think it was a bad deal out there. The owners make 30-plus million dollars after everyone's paid every single year and those teams can be in families for centuries. So i don't see what the real problem is.

T-U: What did you think of Roger Goodell's letter to players?

FT: I didn't think much of it at all. I looked at it, kind of chuckled a little bit and that was about it.

T-U: Do owners respect players?

FT: I can't speak for all owners. There are some very good owners out there. There are some very good businessmen out there. It's a give and a take. It's like any ... I think for the most part, it's a good relationship between owners and players. Right now they're using their leverage as businessmen. That's what it's really all about. I don't think they ever really wanted us to drop our percentage down [that far]. I think that was moreso a leverage ploy, a strategic move by the owners. I think they moreso wanted the 18 games than anything, but the players definitely don't want that. The season's arleady brutal enough and then the preseason schedule they were trying to put in place, it really doesn't do anything for us. In all fairness to the owners, they're just trying to handle business. They're businessmen.

T-U: Will 18 games shorten running backs careers?

FT: I think with how the running back position has evolved, two-headed monster, this and that, shortened careers, from a production standpoint. It'll shorten careers because it'll be guys splitting time. From an injury standpoint, I don't think so. Guys will be splitting time, will be able to play a little bit more by sharing time. That's the way teams are going. They're paying running backs less money. Unless you're one of those out talents that's a freak of nature type of guy. But for the most part I really don't see more featured running backs. I think that's gone. There's going to be a lot more splitting time in that position and that's the trend of the league now.